Path of Hurricane Matthew moving up the East Coast, October 2016. Sand from federal waters will be used as part of a hurricane and storm damage reduction project for Hutchinson Island, Martin County, Florida. Image credit: NOAA.

The Restoration Center has restored more than 2,000 projects nationwide. You can see what’s happening in your neck of the woods by using the Restoration Atlas, a one-stop review of NOAA’s collective restoration efforts around the country. Visit habitat.noaa.gov.

Ocean Infinity’s fleet of USVs and AUVs (worth close to $50M) is by far the largest UMV asset fleet out there for commercial use. These are just a few of their assets. Photo courtesy of SeaTrepid International, LLC. (SeaTrepid has partnered with Ocean Infinity to develop a multiple autonomous vehicle program.)

Deep ocean temperatures were generally high throughout the Paleocene and Eocene, with a particularly warm spike at the boundary between the two geological epocs around 56 million years ago. Temperatures in the distant past are inferred from proxies (oxygen isotope ratios from fossil foraminifera). "Q" stands of Quarternary. Graph by Hunter Allen and Michon Scott, using data from the NOAA National Climatic Data Center, courtesy of Carrie Morrill.

ClassNK has released its Guidelines for Liquefied Hydrogen (LH2) Carriers for the safe constructions and operation of LH2 carriers based on provisions of the IMO Interim Recommendations.

The realization of a low-carbon society is an impending global issue driven by the rapidly growing awareness of environmental consideration in the public and tightening international anti-global warming regime. As a low carbon energy source, the use of hydrogen as a fuel is seen as a major possible solution to environmental problems caused by fuel emissions. As only water is discharged at the time of power generation, and can be manufactured from many different feed materials such as fossil fuel, water, and others, hydrogen is a prime candidate for the fuel of the future. However, in order to realize the best and practical use of hydrogen, its production in economically viable and environmentally friendly method and the secure supply chain to transport hydrogen to the place of consumption is essential. As the most efficient way for long distance and large volume transportation, carriage of LH2 by a ship is anticipated to expand and the relative technologies are developed.

Currently, the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) outlines safety requirements for gas carriers like LNG. However, there are no specific requirements defined in the code applicable for LH2 carriers that take into account the hazards associated with the handling and transport of LH2. Hydrogen must be kept at temperatures below −253°C in order to maintain its liquid state under atmospheric pressure, presenting an even tougher challenge than LNG. In response to growing interest in LH2 transportation, IMO developed Interim Recommendations for Carriage of Liquefied Hydrogen in Bulk which were adopted at MSC 97.

Utilizing its technical expertise and experience in gas carrier R&D and ship classification, ClassNK has developed its Guidelines for Liquid Hydrogen Carriers which provide safety requirements for the design and construction of LH2 carriers. The guidelines consist of safety requirements applicable to LH2 carriers based on the IMO Interim Recommendations, various international standards as well as additional requirements taking specific hazards arising from the handling of LH2 into consideration.